Understanding Your Cycle: How to Get Pregnant Without IVF

In 2022, first time mothers averaged an age of 27, up from 21 in 1970, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With more women waiting to get pregnant, there is an increased need for resources and tools on staying fertile and overcoming fertility challenges in women’s 30s and 40s. Grace Emily Stark, editor-in-chief of Natural Womanhood and a fertility instructor, says there are three things all women can start doing today to increase their chances of getting pregnant in the future.

First, and arguably most important, according to Stark, is tracking your cycle, and not just on a mobile app. Because the health of a woman’s menstrual cycle is directly tied to her overall physical health, Stark argues women can’t afford to be ignorant about their cycle and what is, and is not, normal.

Next, what we eat and drink can play a direct role in the body's ability to maintain a healthy cycle and in turn get pregnant. There is no reason any women should be drinking soda or using tobacco products, according to Stark. A low sugar and low carb diet with lots of healthy fats, protein, and fiber is the best way to ensure your body is prepared for pregnancy.

Finally, Stark recommends consistent low intensity exercise for maintaining a healthy cycle and getting pregnant. High intensity exercise, like CrossFit, can place excessive stress on a woman’s body, which in turn affects her hormones and her cycle, Stark explains.

Today, the moment a woman can’t conceive, much of modern medicine advocates for IVF, but as Stark explains on “Problematic Women,” it is important to first understand why your body is struggling to conceive, and to know the wide range of natural tools and resources available to increase fertility.